Models of Neuromodulatory Circuits in Drosophila

摘要 我们建议使用果蝇体内的一个模型电路来研究胺能神经调节。相对较小的 突触前细胞的数量加上容易接触到突触前和突触后的位置，将使我们能够 量化每个胺能神经元的活动，它们与突触后靶点的功能关系，以及如何 他们的活动是协调一致的。最近发展起来的分子遗传学工具将使我们能够绘制出所有 首次发现了相关受体。准备组织的新方法将使我们能够识别 包括直接和间接调节途径。利用RNAi转基因和经典突变，我们将 定义回路中所有的胺能和谷氨酸能受体的功能以及它们如何相互作用。 初步数据揭示了这个相对简单的电路中出人意料的复杂性，这将是相关的 对于其他各种更复杂的电路，不太适合我们在这里提出的详细分析。

ABSTRACT We propose to use a model circuit in Drosophila to study aminergic neuromodulation. The relatively small number of presynaptic cells combined with easy access to both pre- and post-synaptic sites will allow us to quantify the activity of each aminergic neuron, their functional relationships to post-synaptic targets and how their activities are coordinated. Recently developed molecular genetic tools will allow us to map all of the relevant receptors for the first time. New methods of preparing the tissue will allow us to identify the function of both direct and indirect regulatory pathways. Using RNAi transgenes as well as classical mutations we will define the function of all of the aminergic and glutamatergic receptors in the circuit and how they interact. Preliminary Data have uncovered unexpected complexities in this relatively simple circuit that will be relevant to a variety of other more complex circuits less amenable to the detailed analysis we propose here.